Closure device for isolation chambers



.N v- 30, 1954 s. Y. GIBBON CLOSURE DEVICE FOR ISOLATION CHAMBERS 2- -Shedts+$heef 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1949 INVENTOR M ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1954 5. Y. 'GIIBBOYN CLOSURE DEVICE FOR rsolmon CHAMBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1,949

INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 2,695,605 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 occupant.

CLOSURE DEVICE FOR ISOLATION CHAMBERS Samuel Y. Gibbon, Jenkin'town, Pm, assignor by ,mesne ass gnments, to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 12,1949, Serial No. 132,625 Claims. -(Cl. 128-1) In manysituations it is necessary to provide a chams ber separated from an adjacent chamber or the surroundmg air for the purpose of controlling the atmosphere for a particular purpose. It is alsooften required to permit access to the chamberfor passing in -a hand-or allow-- ing an object to project from the chamber while still .pro-

viding for a snug fitting closure device to prevent loss of the controlled atmosphere or to prevent influx of contamination from .the outside "atmosphere to the closed chamber. Such closed chambers may have special atmospheres which contain, for example, specific concentrations of oxygen orother gas, or which may have controlled humidity conditions. I

An infant incubator which has an occupantfs chamber in which the atmosphere is controlled for temperature and humidity, and at times. may have increased oxygen concentrations, presents atypical example .for a chamber of the type to which the present'invention is applicable. In incubators of this type openings in the front of the occupants compartment are sometimes provided to permit the attendant to'insert. his hands into the occupants space for attending to-therequirementsof the In order to prevent'flow of contaminated .air from the room into the occupants chamberit has been customary to provide a flexible sleeve which encircles the attendants wrist snugly but permits free use of the hands inside the enclosure while sealing against ingress of air from the room. When not in-use thefolded sleeves form a closure for the hand-hole openings.

The present invention contemplates the use ofan improved device which may be readily adjusted for closing the hand-hole or for permitting the insertion of "the operators hand when desired.

One of the specific objects of the invention is to provide a closure device which permits a variable sized opening to be'produced by rotating an externalframe'on the closure door somewhat in the manner of the iris principle used in changing the size of the opening in a photographic lense but using aflexible fabric-like material as the closing medium.

The use of a closure device of this nature insures that closure material which may become contaminated does not contact the occupant thus reducingthe danger of the spread of disease or infection. With this construction the attendant may control the size of the opening 'so that insertion of the hand may be made through the closure device without direct contact therewith, thus preventing the transfer of contamination which may be present at the opening. 'The construction of the unit also reduces the likelihood of contamination of the closurematerial since its position is restricted to thegeneral. plane of the .incubator surface and does not extend appreciably into the occupants compartment during the time when an attendant is working inside the enclosure.

"How the foregoing objects and advantages as well as others incidental to the invention are accomplished will be clear from the following description of the drawings in which-- v Figure 1 is a perspective'view showing an infant incubator incorporating the closure devices of the present invention. I

Figure 2 is a side elevational view to an enlarged scale '2 ofone of the handT-hole enclosure units shown partly in section and with the partsrin .full open position.

Figure 3 is a @side clevational view of the enclosure unit with the parts in closed position.

:Figure 4 is a partial 'front view of the hand-hole closure mechanism to a still larger scale, the left portion being taken.- along the Section 44 of Figure 2 and the right portion being taken along the Section 4a-4a, Figure 2.

FigureS is a sectional view to the scale of Figure 4 taken through the supporting and actuatingring parts of the device.

Figure fi-illustrates the construction of the ball bearing cage or retainer.

Referring to figure 1, the attendantis hand-holes 10 arewindicated as beinglocated .in the front side of the transparent occupants compartment-11. In the form of incubator illustrated the circulating and conditioning equipment is contained within the lower box unit 12. The .base contains an-electrical equipment chamber, the frontopening of which is indicated at 13, a-thermostatic control whichlis controlled by anadjustment knob 1'4,ua cooling chamber which is provided with a feeding chute 15 and a humidifying chamber which may be filled through the filler 16. The air-flow through the humidifier is controlled by means of handle 17. in addition'to the hand-hole openings 10, the occupants chamber is provided with an access opening 18 having a door through which various articlesmay be passed for use by the attendant. The base unit '12 is preferably provided with a lid Which acts as the floor of the occupants chamber and the closure unit 11 may be hinged along one side of the base .12 for convenience in opening and closing when placing a patient in the chamber.

In order to properly seal the hand-hole openings 10, both during the'time the attendant has his hands inserted therethrough and during the timethey are not in use, an improved type of "unit such as indicated generally at 20 is provided. The construction of the unit is more clearly illustrated ii -Figures 2 and 3, and also Figures 4 and 5, where it will be seenthat a stationary metallic frame structure 21 is'supported in the wall of the enclosure -11 by means of an insidefiange 21a and an exterior assembly ring 22 which is preferably made of elastic material such as rubber. The closure material is shown in the form of a generally tubular shaped part 23 folded double and made of a flexible'sheet material which will not permit air to pass through it. Treated fabric or plastic sheet-will serve for this purpose. This is illustrated in -its unfolded tubular positionat 23a in dotted outline. One end of the fabric tube 23 isattached to the stationary ring or frame 21 by means of an elastic ring 24, the frame 21 being provided with a projecting annular rim having a suitabletannular groove or depression 25, thus forming a circumferential seat for one end of the tubular element. This groove may conveniently be rolled or spun into the metalring 21. .The opposite end of the fabric tube 23 is attached to a flanged external collar or ring part 26 which is provided with a suitable annular groove or lip 25?, comprising a second circumferential seat to permit retaining the other end of the fabric 23 by means of another elastic ring 27.

The external ring 'may be rotated with respect to the stationary internal ring 21 to produce a relatively regular folding and closing-in effect which progressively reduces the size of :thecentral opening until the complete opening is sealed in the fashion indicated in Figures 1 and 3. At all times, whether the closure unit is completely closed or partly open-to permit insertion of an operators hand, the fabric material remains outside the surface of the enclosure 11 sothat it does not have an opportunity to contact the patient or become soiled by contact with such materials as milk, fecal matter or the like, which two rings.

' material which may be metal, plastic or the like.

nature serves to prevent any undesirable flow of room air into the isolated air within the enclosure.

The proportioning and shapingof the sheet material 23 to provide proper closing and sealing action is important and to obtain best results a slight conical or lengthwise tapered shape as illustrated in Figure 2 is given to the generally cylindrical sleeve. The tubular shape provides for a suitable fit on the retaining grooves where the ends of the fabric are held by the elastic rings 24 and 27. The length of the tubular or conical unit should be suflicient so that the folded material will serve to completely close the opening without excessive bulk. A length approximately equal to the diameter of the outer ring produces good closing action.

in order to provide for smooth operation the construction illustrated (see particularly Figures 4 and 5) is provided with a plurality of balls spaced around the periphery of ring 21 to give in effect a ball bearing between the Balls 28 roll in groove 29 which is formed in the inner stationary ring 21 to form an inner race. The outer rotating ring 26 also incorporates a groove 30 which acts as the outer race for the balls 28 and serves to retain the outer ring 26 in proper relative position with respect to the inner ring 21. A ball retainer 31 retains the balls 28 in properly spaced relationship around the rings.

The construction of the ball retainer ring 31 is shown in Figure 6. Ring 31 may be made from a flat strip lot T e ends of the strip may be overlapped and cemented or otherwise joined to form a ring in the manner illustrated at 32, Figure 4. Holes are formed to fit balls 28, this being done while the retainer is flat. Slots 33 at one side of the hole for ball 28 permit the relatively flexible ring 31 to be sprung into assembled position over the balls.

The method of assembly of the supporting rings 21 and 26 is relatively simple. Outer ring 26 is placed in approximate position with respect to inner ring 21. All of the balls 28 are then slipped between the rings into the races 29 and 30 at one point after which the balls are properly spaced around the rings to bring them into concentricity. When the balls have been evenly positioned the ball retainer may be pushed into place to retain the balls. The lips formed by the slots 33 in the retainer deflect readily to allow the retainer to be easily sprung into place over the balls. Once the retainer is in position the assembly is securely held with the rings in vested relation in a fashion which allows free and smooth rotation of the outer ring, handle 34 being provided for ease of operation. Disassembly is possible only by forcible removal of the ball retainer 31.

From the foregoing it will be evident that I have provided an improved type of closure unit for an opening to p a chamber which is to be separated from adjoining atmosphere. In the example disclosed the invention is applied to infant incubators. This closure is constructed to permit easy mounting and may replace previously used closures having sleeve assemblies by removing the sleeve mounting collar from the opening in the incubator wall and mounting the assembly of the present invention therein. The unit is constructed with all parts of the assembly smaller than at the diameter of the hole with the exception of the retaining flange, thereby permitting a simple method of assembly. The closure medium being in the form of a simple shape made of sheet material provides an effective closing action by rotational movement of the outer ring. The particular shape of the supporting rings provides not only for securely attaching the closure material in a simple fashion but also permits the forming of suitable races to hold the-balls which give smooth and trouble-free operation. The method of assembly provides for a minimum number of parts since the arrangement of the balls serves to retain the outer and the inner ring in proper assembled relationship. The closing action of the device may be positively controlled to give any desired degree of opening. At the same time the closure incorporates a flexibility which allows the hand to be pushed through a small opening after which the material positions itself snugly around the wrist or arm. This construction reduces the danger of contamination by accurately controlling the position of the closure material at all times. When it is desirable to change a sleeve for sanitary reasons this may be easily and quickly done.

I claim:

1. An isolation chamber having an opening therein, a

closure unit constructed to provide for a variable size opening, said unit having a circular frame with a flange part extending out of the plane of the frame to provide for support of said frame in said opening, a ring member encircling said frame and rotatable with respect thereto, a closure member of flexible sheet material attached to said frame and said ring member, said closure member being shaped to provide overlapping folding of the sheet material in a fashion which causes complete closing of the frame when said ring member is rotated.

2. For isolation apparatus, a compartment having an access opening therein, a detachable closure unit constructed to provide a variable size opening, said unit having a frame supported adjacent said access opening in said compartment and having a projecting annular rim, a ring member having a rim of different diameter from the rim of said frame, said ring member being rotatable with respect to said frame, a closure member of flexible sheet material shaped in a generally tubular form but having a slight taper, said closure member being proportioned for attachment of its ends to the different diameter rims of said frame and said ring member.

3. For an isolation chamber with an opening therein, a device for adjustably closing the opening including a tubular closure member of flexible material, a circular shaped frame and a circular shaped ring member rotatable with respect to said frame, said frame and said ring member each having an annular lip adjacent the edge remote from said frame, retaining an elastic ring holding said closure member on said frame.

4. For an isolation compartment with an access opening therein, a closure device for the opening having a closure sleeve of flexible material, a circular frame and an external ring supporting the closure sleeve, opposed grooves in said frame and said ring, a plurality of balls located inspaced relationship in said grooves to provide for rotational movement of said ring with respect to said frame.

5. An opening closure device for an isolation chamber including a generally cylindrical shaped frame having a flange for positioning said frame in the wall of the chamber, a groove around the outside of said frame, a collar encircling said frame, said collar having a groove, a plurality of balls supported in spaced relationship in said grooves to provide for smooth rotational operation of said collar with respect to said frame and a closure member made of flexible sheet material attached to said frame and said collar in a fashion to provide for opening and closing the access opening to said chamber when said collar is rotated.

6. A closure device for closing an opening in a container including an inner circular frame member which is generally cylindrical in shape but with a smaller diameter at one end, a flange at the end next the container for contacting the wall of the container, a portion of said frame member having a diameter slightly less than the flange to fit in the opening, an external collar around said frame member mounted for rotational movement, a flexible sheet material closing member attached to said frame and said collar, the diameter of said flange and said portion of the frame which fits the opening being larger than the remaining portions of the assembly.

7. An isolation chamber closure device having an inner circular frame of thin sheet material having an annular groove formed therein, a circular collar having an annular groove, a plurality of balls held between said grooves, said collar being proportioned to encircle said frame with an annular space therebetween of sufficient extent to permit insertion of said balls into said grooves when the collar is held in eccentric relationship to said frame, a ball retainer inserted between the collar and frame after the balls have been inserted into the grooves, thereby providing for evenly spacing the balls and bringing the frame and collar into concentric relationship and retaining them in assembled position and a tubular flexible closure member attached to said collar and said frame.

8. An isolation chamber closure device including an inner frame having a bearing groove, an outer collar having a bearing groove, a plurality of balls fitting between said grooves, a ball retainer evenly spacing said balls around said grooves, said retainer being made from thin flexible material capable of beingsprung into assembled position and a flexible closure member attached to said frame and said collar.

9. An isolation chamber closure device including an inner frame having a bearing groove, an outer collar having a bearing groove, a plurality of balls fitting between said grooves, a ball retainer evenly spacing said balls around said grooves, said retainer being formed from a strip of thin sheet material having spaced circular holes therein, the ends of said strip being overlapped and cemented to form a ring and a flexible closure member attached to said frame and said collar.

10. An isolation chamber closure device including an inner frame having a bearing groove, an outer collar having a bearing groove, a plurality of balls fitting between said grooves, a ball retainer evenly spacing said balls around said grooves, said retainer being in the form of a ring of thin flat material having spaced holes to engage the balls, the ring being provided with slits at one side of the holes to facilitate assembly and a flexible closure member attached to said frame and said collar.

11. For an isolation chamber with an opening therein, a closure device which may be inserted into the opening, said device including a flanged ring member the flange of which extends out of the plane of the ring, and having a portion with a diameter to fit the opening, another ring member supported on said flanged member for rotational movement with respect thereto, said second ring member having a maximum diameter less than the portion of the flanged ring member which fits in the opening, a retaining element positioning said flanged ring member in the opening, and a cylindrical shaped closure element of flexible sheet material having one end fastened to said flanged ring member and the other end fastened to said second ring member.

12. A removable closure device having a fixed frame member proportioned to fit a circular opening, a collar rotatably supported with respect to said frame member and proportioned to lie substantially within the axial length of said frame, an annular groove in the external peripheral surface of said frame, an annular groove in said collar and a flexible closure sleeve proportioned to be held in the groove of said frame and in the groove of said rotatable collar.

13. A removable closure device for an isolation chamber for providing a controlled, variable sized opening, said device including a detachable frame member having an annular portion with an encircling groove in its external surface, a collar member encircling the annular portion of said frame and rotatable with respect thereto, said collar member having an encircling groove, and a closure sleeve of flexible material, one end of which is fastened in the groove in said frame and the other end of which is fastened in the groove in said collar member.

14. A device for constricting an opening in the wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecting through said opening, comprising a first ring for attachment to said wall and formed with an annular flange, a second ring formed with an annular flange and coaxially positioned with respect to the first ring and coaxially rotatable with respect thereto, a flexible tubular element having its open ends about the respective flanges, and elastic bands over the respective ends and holding same on the flanges.

15. A device for constricting an opening in the wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecing through said opening, said device including a ring for mounting to said wall opening, a replaceable, flexible, pliable, thin tubular element surrounded at each end by an elastic band, one end of the tubular element being fixed to said ring by the elastic band at that end, and means to which the other end of the tubular element is attached by the elastic band at that end for turning the same concentrically with respect to the first end of the tubular element to adjust the opening of the tubular element to a desired size.

16. A device for constricting an opening in the wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecting through said opening, said device comprising a detachable closure unit constructed to provide a variable size opening and having a ring supported adjacent said opening with a projecting annular rim, a ring memher having a projecting annular rim of different diameter from the rim of said first ring, said ring member being rotatable with respect to said first ring, a closure member of flexible sheet material shaped in a generally tubular form but having a length-Wise taper, the larger end of said closure member being attached to the larger of said rims, and the smaller end of said closure being attached to the smaller of said rims.

17. A device for constricting an opening in the wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecting through said opening, said device comprising a pair of rings arranged upon a common axis and at least in part nested one within the other, one ring being fixed to the edge portion of the chamber wall surrounding said opening, the other ring being mounted for rotation about the common axis of said rings and being restrained as against axial displacement With respect to the first ring, the rings having radially outwardly presented circumferential seats for the ends of a flexible tubular closure sleeve, a flexible tubular closure sleeve having one end folded double within the other end, the end portions of the sleeve respectively surrounding the circumferential seats of said rings, and annular retaining means at the end portions of the sleeve holding same on the respective seats.

18. A device for constricting an opening in the Wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecting through said opening, comprising sealing mechanism including a ring for fixed connection to said wall providing an opening, said ring being sealed to the opening in said Wall, a flexible, thin tubular element surrounded at each end by an elastic band element, a second ring adapted to be turned coaxially with the first ring, means for holding said second ring .to the therapeutic chamber, and means attaching one end of the tubular element to one ring and the other to the other r1ng.

19. A device for constricting an opening in the wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecting through saidopening, comprising sealing mechanism including a ring for fixed connection to said wall providing an opening, said ring being sealed to the opening in said wall, said ring having an outwardly turned section, a second ring having means mounting it to be turned coaxially with the first ring and also having an outwardly turned section, a flexible, thin tubular element having its ends respectively surrounding said outwardly turned sections, and an annular elastic means at each end of the tubular element for holding the ends on said sections.

20. A device for constricting an opening in the wall of a closed therapeutic chamber about a body member projecting through said opening, comprising a fixed ring and a movable ring coaxially positioned with respect to said opening, a flexible, thin tubular element mounted on said rings, said tubular element being provided at each end with an elastic band, the diameter of which is substantially smaller than the rings whereby the elastic band must be stretched to be slipped over the open ends of the rings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,215,327 Ackerman Feb. 13, 1917 1,303,712 Newmann May 13, 1919 1,643,982 Delaval-Crow Oct. 4, 1927 2,017,539 Kaplan Oct. 15, 1935 2,391,871 Benson Jan. 1, 1946 2,405,682 Bogoslowsky Aug. 13, 1946 2,478,852 Wallin Aug. 9, 1949 

